Garment hanger



GARMENT HANGER,

Original Filed April 8, 1937 INVENTOR.

Jomed D. C'o/izi iowL ATTORNEYJ.

Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,203,331 GARMENT HANGER James D.Coney, Detroit, lV[ich., assignor to Star- Service Hanger Company,Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Substituted for abandonedapplication Serial No.

135,744, April 8, 1937.

- This application 'May 15, 1939, Serial No. 273,625;

Claims.

- verging spring wire arms and a transverse strut extending therebetweenand supported thereby in a novel manner.

Second, to provide a hanger of the type described having provision forready assembly of the strut with the hanger arms, and further provisionwhereby the hanger arms serve to clampingly bind and retain the strut.

' Third, to provide 'a hanger of the type described characterized bymeans at the free ends of a pair of downwardly diverging arms forreceiving and frictionally retaining a transverse strut, and furthermeans whereby outward displacement or shifting of the strut is preventedby theabutment thereof with said arms.

Fourth, to provide a hanger'of the type described and embodying arms,the free ends of which are configured in a particular manner anddisposed obliquely to exert spring binding action on the strut'memberheld thereby.

Fifth, to provide a hanger of the type described which is simple in itsparts, inexpensive of production, and readily assembled by unskilledpersons.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. -1 is'an elevational view of the hangerof my invention having a yoke formed of wire and a pair of downwardlydiverging arms, the initial or disassembled -position of the arms beingindicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the structure of Fig. 1, viewed from theright of that figure, and further illustrating details of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail illustrating the engagement ofthe end of a strut inthe formed terminal of one of the hanger arms.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a modified formor embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating another modifiedform.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section illustrating a construction whereina hollow strut is employed.

This is a substitute for abandoned application Serial No. 135,744, filedApril'8, 1937.

The present invention deals with a garment hanger characterized by atransverse cylindrical strut of substantial diameter as compared withthe diameter of the wire forming the yoke supporting the strut, to theend that-a more adequate supporting surface will be furnished forgarments draped on the hanger. My invention particularly concerns itselfwith the provision of means for effectively securing the ends of thestrut to the free ends of the diverging arms of the yoke, a frictionalbinding or clamping action at the point of engagement of'the arms withthe strut as well as spring clamping action of the arms being relied onto secure the p a parts. Referring to the drawing, the reference numerall in general indicates a yoke formed of wire conformed to provide atwisted shank 2, a wire suspension member or hook 3, and a pair ofdownwardly diverging arms 4, the said arms initially being disposedsharply downwardly, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Atransverse strut 5, which may be a cylindrical spindle or shaft of woodif desired or a solid or hollow elongated cylindrical member of anyother suitable lfl material, is supported between the ends of the arms4. By initially disposing the arms to enclose a'relatively sharp angle,it will be apparent that when a strut is operatively associated with vthe arms, the latter will be spread outwardly and"% placed underconsiderable spring tension tending to urge the arms toward one another.

For the purpose of receiving the ends of the strut 5, I bend the freeends 6 of the arms 4 downwardly, then inwardly and upwardly, ter-"30minating the so bent free ends in rounded eyes 1. The ends of rod 5 areinserted in eyes 1. However, in order to exert spring binding orclamping action on the rod or strut 5 to retain the same in the eyes, Iinitially dispose the eyes= obliquely at a substantially sharper angleto the horizontal than when the eyes are in final position with thestrut inserted therein. In other words, the strut must first be insertedin one of the eyes I, then an upward bending or springingum effortexerted on the eyes in order to insert the strut in the other eye. Thiswill cause the upper and lower portions of the respective eyes tobindingly engage the upper and-lower sides of the strut in a mannerwhich will be obvious and resist displacement of the strut. Referencetothe drawing discloses that the ends of the strut longitudinally abutthe curved free ends 6 of the arms 4, thus preventing outward shiftingor accldental removal of the strut.

As previously stated, the strut may be of any suitable material andcross-sectional shape. For example, in the case of a wooden strut, Ipreferablyemploy a member three-eighths inch thick. Fig. 6 illustratesthe use of a hollow tubular.

strut 8, but other details of the invention as previously andsubsequently described are applicable equally when a hollow strut isemployed.

In Fig. 4 I disclose a modified form of my invention wherein the freeend 6 is bent downwardly, thence upwardly through 180 degrees to form adouble wire abutment 9, thence inwardly at H], and terminates in an eyell encircling strut 5 and frictionally binding the same, in the samemanner as described above, due to the initial oblique positioning of theeye, as referred to.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate an alternative form of my invention, the parts ofwhich are similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and areaccordingly numbered the same, the distinction lying in the form that inthe modification of Fig. 5 the eyes are disposed reversely or the freeends have been bent initially past the vertical and must be sprunginwardly for insertion of the strut. In Fig. 5

the initial positioning of the arm obliquely to elfecta distinctgripping action on the strut 5 is illustrated in dotted lines.

From the foregoing the advantages of my construction are apparent. Theelements, namely,

the wire element I and strut 5, are capable of being readily and cheaplyformed by machinery now known, and are furthermore capable of beingquickly assembled by unskilled labor. In assembled position the .partsare strongly attached to one another to resist displacement and thesupport furnished by the enlarged strut 5 overcomes objections whichhave heretofore characterized struts of thin wire construction byeliminating the .formation of sharp creases in garments supportedthereby. The gripping effect of the arms 4 is enhanced by the initialdisposal thereof for springing during assembly, and due to the effectthereof I find that I am enabled to utilize a wire of decidedly smallerdiameter than is ordinarily employed in metal hangers.

.I have illustrated and described my improvements in the embodimentwhich I considerpractical. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe other embodiments or adaptations, as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those skilled inthe art to embody or adapt myimprovements as may be desired.

.Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l..In agarment hanger, a yoke comprising a pair of downwardly divergingarms connected at one end to a shank, said arms at thir free endsbeingbent downwardly, inwardly and upwardly,

. ends being bent inwardly and upwardly and terinitiating in eyes, andan elongated strut extending between the free ends and receivable .insaid eyes whereby the strut is supported, said strut at its outer endslongitudinally abutting said arms to prevent shifting of the strutoutwardly,

said strut flexing saideyeswhen inserted therein whereby'the springbinding efiect thereof is increased.

3. In a garment hanger, a yoke comprising a pair of downwardly divergingarms connected at one end to a shank, said arms at their free ends beingbent downwardly, inwardly and upwardly, and terminating inobliqely-disposed eyes, and an elongated cylindrical strut extendingbetween the free ends and receivable in and 'frictionally abutting saidarms, said eyes being obliquely disposedrelative to said rod wherebyspring binding action thereon is efiected by said eyes, said spring armsbeing substantially spread from their ,rest positionbysaidrod wherebyspring retaining action is exerted on the rod. I

5. A garment hanger comprising .a ,yoke 1 having downwardly. diverging.arms, and, atransverse strut extendingbetween and carried by the freeends of said arms, said armsterminatinginportionsdisposed .obliquely tosaid strut, saidportions externally engaging and-being distorted by saidstrut to exert spring frictional vretaining action-on said strut,saidyarmszhaving means-integral therewith -for abutting the ends of saidstrutto restrain the same from-outward movement. I

6. A garment hanger-:comprisinga-yokehaving downwardly diverging ,arms,and a transverse, .strutextending between :andcarried by the-free endsof said armasaid arms terminatingin-portions disposed obliquely to saidstrut, said portions externally engaging and being distorted by saidstrut to exert spring frictional retaining action on said strut.

7. A garment hanger comprising ayoke having downwardly diverging arms,and a transverse strut extendingbetween and carried by the free ends ofsaid arms, saidarms terminating in portionsexternally engaging and-beingdistorted by said strut to exert spring frictional retaining action onsaid strut,-said arms having means integral therewith for abutting theends of said strut to I restrain the same 1 from outward movement.

:8. A garment hanger comprising .a yoke having downwardly divergingarms-terminating in eyes,

I and 'astrut extending between the free ends and receivable in andfrictionally engageable with said eyes said strut springing saideyesfrom normalposition 1 whereby the 5 eyes. bindingly engage the shut,said strut at its outer endslong-itudinally :abuttingsaid arms topreventshifting of the. strut outwardly,

9. A garmenthanger comprising ayokeha-ving downwardly diverging arms.terminating in ,eyes, ,and astrut extending-between the free: ends andreceivable in and frictionally enga-geable with said eyes, said strutspringing ,sai'd eyes from normal position whereby the: eyes bindinglyen- @gage theirstlllt.

-10 A garment hanger comprising a yoke havingdownwardlydiverging arms,the ends of {said I said :rod whereby :spring Ebinding action is nef-:fected thereon.

-;1 1..;iA agarment hanger comprising aewirezyoke having downwardlydiverging arms curved inwardly at the ends thereof, the incurved endsterminating in upwardly disposed strut-receiving eyes, and a strutengaged in said eyes, the arms of the yoke being normally spacedsubstantially less than the length of the strut so that when distendedand the strut is engaged within the eyes, the eyes are under clutchingstress by the turning moment resulting from the stress of the arms ofthe yoke and the distortion of the eyes from their initial positionrelative to the arms of the yoke.

12. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly divergingarms terminating in inturned ends, the said inturned ends beingprovided. with upwardly directed eyes, and a strut engaging said eyes,the arms of the yoke, when the eyes are engaged with the strut, beingplaced under stress acting to bow them inwardly and the eyes beingsubjected to a turning moment whereby they are held under clutchingengagement with the strut.

13. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly divergingarms turned inwardly at the ends thereof, the inturned ends terminatingin laterally-disposed strut-receiving eyes, and a strut engaged in saideyes, the arms of the yoke being normally spaced substantially less thanthe length of the strut so that when distended and the strut is engagedwithin the eyes, the eyes are under clutching stress by the turningmoment resulting from the distortion of the yoke from its initialposition.

14. A garment hanger comprising a wire yoke having downwardly divergingarms terminating in inturned ends, the said inturned ends being providedwith laterally-disposed eyes, and a strut engaging said eyes, the eyesbeing in spring clutching engagement with the strut.

15. A garment hanger comprising a support, a pair of wire armsdownwardly diverging from the support, and a rod connecting the lowerportions of the arms, said portions being hooked inwardly and upwardlyand terminally forming eyelets receiving the rod, the eyelets beingdisposed with their axes substantially in the plate determined by saidarms, the arms forming abutments to resist disengagement of the rod fromthe eyelets.

16. A garment hanger comprising a support, a

pair of spring wire arms downwardly diverging from the support, and arod connecting the lower portions of the arms, said portions forminghooks extending toward each other and terminating in upward projectionsoblique to and apertured to receive the rod, the hooks being sprung, inengaging the rod, to reduce the obliquity of said upward projections,whereby the spring reaction of the hooks binds their upward projectionson the rod to restrain the latter from rotation.

1'7. A garment hanger comprising a support, a pair of spring armsdownwardly diverging from the support, and a rod connecting the lowerportions of the arms, said portions forming a pair of eyelets receivingthe rod, and such eyelets being originally so axially disaligned as toimpose a spring stress on the lower portions of the arms, in engagingthe rod with the eyelets, whereby the eyelets bind upon the rod inreaction to such stress, and thus resist rotation of the rod.

18. A garment hanger comprising a pair of joined downwardly-divergentwire arms, a pair of eyelets formed upon the lower ends of said arms,and a rod inserted in and jointly carried by the eyelets and restrainedby the eyelets from accidental rotation, and a support engaging the armsat their juncture.

19. A garment hanger comprising a support, a pair of wire armsdownwardly diverging from the support, and a rod connecting the lowerportions of the arms, said portions being bent toward each other andterminally forming eyelets receiving the rod, the eyelets being disposedwith their axes substantially in the plane determined by said arms, andthe arms forming abutments to resist disengagement of the rod from theeyelets.

20. A garment hanger comprising a support, a pair of spring .wire armsdownwardly diverging from the support, and a rod connecting the lowerportions of the arms, said portions extending toward each other andterminating in eyelets receiving the ends of the rod, the eyelets beingaxially disaligned prior to their engagement by the rod and beingstressed toward an aligned relation to accommodate the rod, and bindingon the rod, in reaction to such stress, and opposing rotation of the rodby such binding.

JAMES D. CONEY.

